Display rack



June 11, 1940. Q i s 2,204,446

DISPLAY RACK Filed 001:. l, 1938 15 C. Robinsbn Patented June 11, 1940 "UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

DISPLAY aAoK Harry G. Robinson, Chattanooga, Tenn.

Application October 1,

7 Claims.

This invention relates to supporting racks particularly for merchandise, such as cartons, packaged goods and thelike to be stacked in a manner such as will display the articles to the best advantage. v

The primary object of the invention is to provide a rack of the wire or rod type which is unusually rugged and capable of supporting practically any reasonable weight and which at the to same time may be manufactured in volume from wire or rod stock at a cost consistent with retail prices of racks ofrthis general nature.

Another object of the invention is to provide a rack of the platform type adapted to be manu factured from wire or rod stock so constructed as to provide a supporting platform partitioned off in a manner such as will accommodate a maximum numberof articles to be displayed and at the same time provide maximum load-supportingcapacity.-

A further object of the invention is to provide a rack having in general a platform-shaped construction and made of wire or rod stock, the rods or bars making up the rack being arranged in'a manner such as to provide an adjustable partitioned platform of maximum load capacity.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent in view of the following description taken in conjunction with the drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a View in perspective of a rack embodying the features of thepresent invention,

the rack being shown in loaded condition;

Fig. 2 is a view in perspective of the rack unloaded;

Fig. 3' is "a cross sectional View taken substantially on the line 33, Fig. 2; and,

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view similar tangular shape, providing side members i which at the opposite ends of the rack are bent'at an angle as at 2 to form legs 3. The legs are provided with floor or ground-contacting portions by bending the intermediate end cross connecting lengths of the frame bar upwardly as itself to uneven floor or ground contours. The

frame of the rack also includes'another pieceof bar or rod stock extended from end to end i of the rack along the central portion thereof,

55 providing a center support 4, said latter memat 3a,'whereby the rack will automatically adapt 1938, Serial No. 232,855 (on. 21141 her at its opposite ends being turned downwardly and being welded to the adjacent portions of the frame bar as indicated at 5.

The floor of the rack platform portion thereof is made up of a series of cross rods 01' wires 6 which are welded to the undersides of the frame bars I andd. I

To partition off the floor of the platform and at the same time reinforce the latter, a series of cross rods 1 are welded to the top portions of the frame member bars, thereby dividing off the'platform into a series of "partitions, there being sixof the latter in the'type illustrated in the drawing. v p

' Fig. 1 shows the rack loaded with a series of cartons arranged in stacked, generally pyramidal, relation, the bottom row of cartons being held firmly against displacement by the partitions of the rack. With a rack of this type, maximum load capacity is insured while at the same time the load is held against displacement, or the cartons are retained against shifting, an objection common in other known types of racks.

The arrangement of the legs at the end of the supportingplatform provides a convenient means for attaching display and advertising signs or cards. I

-"A rack constructed as shown and described herein may be manufactured in volume at a cost consistent with the market price for articles of this type.

Fig. 4 shows a'modification in structure wherein like parts aredesignated with like reference numerals except that the exponent a is added. In this form of rack, the partition rods la are adjustable to vary the area of the partitions in accordance with different sized articles to be supported on the platform of the rack. Retainer brackets 8 of wire or rod stock are provided, each having its opposite ends bent downwardly and welded to the adjacent side bar of the frame of the rack, said retaining members each being provided with a series of notches 9 which engage the opposite ends of the rods or bars 1 under spring tension. Whenever it is desired to adjust the partition rods 1 along the platform of the rack, it is only necessary to spring the same from one notch to another.

It will be understood that certain minor changes in construction and design may be adopted within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim 1. A wire rack for supporting merchandise and the like comprising a main supporting frame formed of rod or bar stock having a substantially rectangular shape, opposite ends of the frame thus provided being turned downwardly to provide legs for the rack with the elevated-portion of the frame therebetween constituting a platform frame portion, a series of cross Wires or rods connected to the underside of the platform frame portion, thereby providing a floor for the platform, and a series of partition rods connected in spaced relation across the top of the frame member thereby partitioning off said floor.

2. A wire rack for supporting articles of merchandise comprising a frame made up of bar or red stock having in general a rectangular contour, opposite ends of the frame being turned downwardly at an incline providing legs for the rack with the elevated portion of the frame therebetween constituting a platform frame portion, a series of relatively small gauge wire rods con-= nected to the underside of the platform portion of the frame bar providing a floor or platform for the rack, and a series of cross rods connected in spaced relation across the top of the platform thereby separating the latter into a series of partitions.

3. A wire rack for supporting articles of merchandise comprising a frame made up of relatively heavy gauge bar or red stock having in general rectangular contour, opposite ends of the frame being turned downwardly at an incline providing legs for the rack with the elevated portion of the rack between said ends constituting a platforu frame portion, said frame also including a bar lying substantially intermediate the side bars of the frame and having its opposite ends turned downwardly and connected to the transverse end portions of the main frame bar, a series of relatively small gauge wire rods connected to the lower faces of the platform portion of the frame bars providing a floor for the platform, a series of partition bars extending transversely in substantial alignment with said floor bars but connected to the upper faces of the frame bars, thereby partitioning off said floor.

4. A wire rack for supporting merchandise and the like comprising a main frame made up 01 relatively heavy gauge bar or rod stock having its opposite ends turned downwardly at an in cline providing legs for the rack with the elevated portion of the rack between the legs constituting a platform portion, the intermediate transverse portions of the bar which cross connect the legs of the opposite ends of the frame bar being turned upwardly to provide ground or floor contacting portions for the legs at each corner of the frame, a center bar extending from end to end of the rack and having its opposite ends turned downwardly and connected to the upwardly bent cross connecting leg portions, a series of relatively thin gauge wire rods positioned transversely of the rack and connected to the lower faces of the frame rods, thereby providing a floor for the platform portion of the rack, and a series of wire rods extending transversely in substantial alignment with said floor rods but connected to the upper faces of the frame rods, thereby partitioning off said floor.

5. A wire rack for supporting articles of merchandise and the like comprising a main sup, porting frame formed of rod or bar stock having a substantially rectangular shape, opposite ends of the frame thus provided being turned downwardly to provide legs for the rack with the elevated portion of the frame therebetween constituting a platform, a series of cross wires or rods connected to the underside of the platform thereby providing a floor for the latter, a series of partition rods disposed in spaced relation across the top of the frame thereby partitioning off said floor, and means for adjustably anchoring said partition bars to said frame.

6. A wire display rack comprising a main supporting frame consisting of an endless rectangular frame bar bent down at two opposite sides to form legs, transverse supporting members attached to the lower face thereof providing a platform for the rack, additional transverse members attached to the upper face of the frame bar partitioning off the platform, and an additional frame brace bar substantially parallel to two sides of the main frame bar and substantially intermediate of said sides.

7. A wire rack to be used as a support for merchandise, comprising a main supporting frame of relatively heavy rod or bar stock having oppositely disposed downwardly projecting legs, the portion of the frame connecting the legs constituting a raised platform support, a series of cross wires or rods connected to the under side of the main platform frame rods and holding the latter in rigid spaced relation, said cross wires or rods constituting in effect a floor or platform on which articles of merchandise are adapted to rest, and a series of partition rods connected in spaced relation across the top of the main frame rods partitioning off said floor, the articles of merchandise to be displayed being disposed on the floor and held against displacement by said partition rods, permitting stacking of the merchandise to maximum capacity.

HARRY C. ROBINSON. 

